Rare, (missed) opportunity to see a 1959 Riley 2.6

I learned today from Gary Harvey of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, that he and his father, Phil, plan to participate in the Saturday portion of our Vermont meeting. I am more than familiar with their perfectly preserved 1959 Riley 2.6, one of only three Riley 2.6s in North America. I had the pleasure of riding in it through the fall beauty of Northwestern Connecticut on the drive that Tim Gladding planned for participants in the 2005 meeting of Riley owners at Lime Rock. That’s the back of Gary Harvey at the wheel as the 2.6 passes through the West Cornwall covered bridge, photographed by yours truly. Below the car emerges, photographed by my wife, Judy. It was that ride that prompted me to plan a tour this year that includes all five covered bridges in Addison County, Vermont. Gary and Phil should arrive after we have traversed two of them in the morning, but they will have another pair to cross with us once we have lunched at Eric Killorin’s in Weybridge. Gary and Phil will not be the only New Hampshire Riley owners driving to join us Saturday morning. From their blueberry farm in Troy, Fenella and Anthony Levick will be bringing their fine 1937 Adelphi 12/4, which won the most original prize last year at our AGM meet at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

Phil once kept his 2.6 at his home in Wisconsin, but it moved with him to be near Gary. Three years ago they entered it in a local meet:

“John

“On June 8, 2008 we entered our Riley 2.6 (the one in which you and Mrs. Riley toured with Gary and I at Lime Rock) at a British car rally sponsor by Brit Bits ( a local British car club) and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord, New Hampshire. The last count that I saw had about 45 British cars entered. They covered a wide range of marques. Our Riley was the only one in the show and, as usual, attracted much attention. Most car collectors had never seen one before and spent a great deal of time looking it over very carefully and expressing great admiration. When the awards were made our Riley won “Best in Show” competing with many outstanding cars that had been beautifully restored. Of course we were delighted.

“Phil Harvey”

Unfortunately, the heavens opened as they do in New England. The ensuing deluge prevented the Harveys, father and son, from bringing their beautiful Riley 2.6 from New Hampshire to join our group in Vermont. But we’ll always have Lime Rock.

Any of these photos, at the top or in the gallery, can be enlarged by clicking a cursor on it.